Flash light



F. EVANS.

FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.22, 1920.

1 ,41 1,61 I Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

.um'reo STATES P T NT OFFICE.

, FRED EVANS, or su'mm'rr, NEw JERSEY, ASSIGNOR in hours v. ARQNSON, or

NEWARK, NEw JERSEY,

FLASH mom.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 22, 1920. Serial No. 367,931.

[ all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, FRED EVANS, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city of Summit, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flash Lights, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My present invention relates to flashlights, more particularly to flashslight lanterns, and it aims to provide a flash-light 'of this class whichwill embody the desired features of simplicity, eflioiency and convenience,,and which may be manufactured and marketed at comparatively small expense.

A particular object is to provide'a lantern of this character, wherein there is. an incandescent lamp and, a current-generator as a sourceof electric energy, the last-mentioned device, together with the Parts for actuating it, being permanently attached to askeleton frame, which may be readily disposed in 'and removed from the lantern casing as a unitary structure.

A further Object is to provide certain features of improvement in the construction of the casing, and also in the construction and arrangement of the motive parts, so that the lamp may be caused to flash by a natural closing movement of the'fingers of the hand by which the lantern is carried.

The invention in its preferred form of details will be described in the following specification,- reference being had in particular to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents a central vertical section though my improved lantern.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section, showing the working parts in end elevation and looking in the direction of the lamp. w I

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

In carrying out my invention, I produce from sheet iron or the like, an open-ended casing or shell 4, preferably of elliptical form in cross-section, portions of the casing edges, where they are seamed together or otherwise united, being correspondingly fashioned to provide a hood or lamp-com:

partment 5 of conical form as'shown. This hood communicates with the interior of the casing, and set therein is a reflector 6,

'formedwith a socket 7, in which is screws threaded an incandescent lamp 8 having its base projecting into the casing.- A lens9 is set in the hood against the reflector as shown, the outer face thereof being convex 1n form, 1n order to intensify the rays from the lamp. From an inspection of Fig. 3, it will be noted that the hood, thus formed projects from the casing in the direction of its greater diameter; and also that in consonance therewith, I provide a bail 10 whose arms 11 are pivotally engaged on studs 12, secured to the casing. These parts are thus arranged in order to bring an oblong side of'the casing next to the person carryln-g the same, with the lamp in position to cast its rays directly ahead. The bottom closure consists of a plate 13, inset in the casing and formed with a rim orbead 14, crimped on the edge thereof.

For carrying the working parts, I employ a rectangular frame consisting of a side plate715, formed with thetop and bottom members 16 and17, respectively, which are connected by the opposite plate 18. Operatlvely secured in the side plates are the arbors 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, the arbor 22 being more specifically secured in the projections 24 provided for the purpose. This skeleton frame is disposed in the casing with'the bottom plate 17 engaged between inward ridges or deformations .25 formed on the bottom plate 13.

26 is a cap made with a flange 27, designed to embrace'the casing, and when the parts are assembled, is preferablysecured thereto by screws 28. Thiscap also rests on the frame end 16, and is provided with inward ridges or deformations 29, designed to embrace the same; it being observed that the top portion of the skeleton frame is narreinforced region 3 1.- Within thecasing the rod 31 has a yoke 38 which straddles an angular lever 39, fulcrumed on the arbor 19.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922;-

Onthis-cap is secured by.

This yoke carries a pin 40, which works in a slot 41 of said lever. This lever is made with a sector gear 42, which meshes with a loose onthe arbor 23 and provided with a plurality of branches 52. This purpose is accomplished by means of a pawl 53, pivoted at 54 to one of the branches in position to engage the ratchet wheel. A spring 55, pivoted on one of the branches at 56, urges the pawl into engagement with the ratchet, but yields to permit the raising of the pawl under the reverse movement of the ratchet.

Arranged between the magnet branches is a generator consisting of armatures 57, coil wound in series, and attached to a sleeve guard 58, surrounding the arbor 23, and fixed to the frame plate 15. One end 59 of the winding is grounded at 60 on the frame plate; and the other end 61 thereof leads to a spring conductor 62, held to engage a terminal'of the lamp. Said conductor 62 is secured by a post 63 on a plate of non-conducting material 64, attached to an arm 65, formed for the purpose on the frame side 18. The return from the lamp base is accomplished through the reflector and the casing parts.

Whenever, under the foregoing construction, the T-handle is drawn toward the bail-an operation readily and conveniently accomplished by a closing movement of the fingers as the bail is carried in the handthe permanent magnet is spun about the conductors, setting up an electric current. After each actuation, the gearing is run reversely under the influence of the spring 37, but such reverse movement is not imparted to the magnet since the pawl rises out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

Havin thus described my invention, what I c aim is 1. Ina flash-light lantern, a casing provided with a bail and a removable cap, said cap being provided with spaced-apart Walls, a draw-rod extending through said walls and provided with a T-shaped handle exteriorly thereof, a spring arranged between the cap walls and acting on the drawrod to urge the same normally in downward position, both the bail and the handle being adapted together to be grasped by the hand, a skeleton frame removably disposed in the casing and carrying a currentnerator ineluding a rotatable magnet, 'an means supported entirely on said frame and operable by the movement of said handle for spinning said magnet in one direction.

2. In a flash-light lantern, a casing provided with a bail and a removable cap, said cap being provided with spaced-apart walls, a draw-rod extending through said walls and provided with a T-shaped handle exteriorly thereof, a spring arranged between the cap walls and acting on the draw-rod for normally urging the same into downward;

position, the bail and the handle being adapted together to be grasped by the hand, a skeleton frame removably disposed in the casing and carrying a current-generator including a rotatable magnet, an angular lever with which said draw-bar has pivotal connection fulcrumed on the frame and provided with a gear sector, and means operable by. said gear sector on movement of the draw-bar toward the bail for spinning said magnet. I

I 3. In a flash-light lantern, the combination with a casing of elliptical, form in crosssection, the same being formed with a lamp hood projecting outwardly in the direction of its greater diameter and provided with a bail in consonance with said hood, of a reflector set in said hood and provided with an incandescent lamp, a removable cap for said casing provided with spacedwalls, a bandled stem extending through said walls, spring means between the walls acting on the stem for normally holding it in downward position, the said bail and the said stem handle being adapted together to be grasped by the hands, a skeleton frame re- -movably disposed in the casing and car mg a currentgenerator in circuit with said lamp, and means supported entirely on said stem for actuatin said generator.

This specificatlon signed and witnessed this eighth day of March 1920.

FRED EVANS;

Witnesses:

FREDK C. Fisomm, F. NOLL. 

